We spoke to brothers Xander (Fourth Form, Vanbrugh) and Oscar (Upper Sixth, Vanbrugh) about their recent experiences treading the boards on professional stages in Oxford.
I hear you both have achieved success on the big stage this year. Can you tell us about it?
XL – I have been part of the cast of the pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, at the Oxford Playhouse, which ran from Friday 22 November to Sunday 5 January. I played numerous roles; the umbrella term is ‘Young Company performer’ so essentially, I am part of the ensemble cast.
OL – I played ‘Titus Groan’, one of the principal protagonists in an adaptation of Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast which was produced by the Oxford Theatre Guild and performed at the Old Fire Station, Oxford.
How was the audition process?
OL – In the first audition, we had to prepare a short monologue to perform individually, and a two-minute scene from the script. The group of 40 who originally auditioned was whittled down to ten, I was then offered the part and rehearsals started a month or so later. I am quite good at adapting to different situations, and doing auditions for School productions was good preparation as it gave me an idea of how it all works.
XL – One of my friends told me about the Oxford Playhouse pantomime auditions back in March. There were 70 auditionees and only twelve were selected. We had to dance, sing and read an excerpt from the script. There were no callbacks, just an email to say I had been cast, which felt a bit surreal!
How often did you have to rehearse?
XL – It started with ‘unofficial’ rehearsals on Saturdays where we were just getting to know each other and the show itself. Then we had two weeks to learn the show; we had
two-hour rehearsals in the evenings for two weeks and four-hour rehearsals at the weekend, with specified breaks. Due to the age of the ‘Young Company’ members, we were limited as to how long we could rehearse in one go. We also had tech rehearsals to go through the whole pantomime once.
OL – My rehearsals were nowhere near as long and intense. However, we could rehearse for longer periods without the restrictions. We rehearsed from September to November, performing at the end of November. We would rehearse for a couple of hours in the evenings three times per week.
How did you manage your schoolwork alongside this?
OL – As I am in the Sixth Form I have study periods, so I was managing the workload as effectively as I could by making good use of these. I also used the time Xander was in rehearsals to study.
XL – It was all through the support of the teachers. They gave me handouts to help cover any work I missed, and I was also allowed to use games as study time.
How has Cokethorpe prepared or supported you?
OL – Although it was done independently from the School, I would not have gone for the audition if I had not had experience with productions and drama lessons here. The School support was the inspiration, and Cokethorpe gave me the belief that I was good enough to do it.
XL – I had lots of support from staff, helping me to balance rehearsals with my schoolwork. I was also given express permission to do it as I had to miss some lessons to rehearse.
What was it like being part of a professional production?
OL – The atmosphere was more relaxed in a sense, because in a School production, you may have 30 to 40 pupils to co-ordinate. Whereas in Gormenghast, you have a cast of experienced performers who have done it before and know their lines before the first rehearsal.
XL – Also, in School, the four Drama Department staff have to do everything, they have to direct the production, and do the sound and the lighting, whereas in a professional production, everyone does their own thing. It is incredibly specialised, so everyone is doing what they are trained to do. Therefore, the productions come together more quickly, as everyone can work on their parts at the same time.
Oscar, you are part of CADA at Cokethorpe, can you tell us about that?
OL – At the moment it is in its infancy, but we have ambitions to take a show to the Edinburgh Fringe and also to perform something at the theatre in Chipping Norton as we have a partnership with them. CADA is of great benefit to A Level students who want to pursue drama as a career. We also get an account on a website where we can contact agents and casting directors. It takes dramatic education from A Level that step further and starts applying it to life outside of the School and beyond.
Some highlights from Drama at Cokethorpe?
OL – I have two or three particular highlights. The Little Shop of Horrors where I played the demon dentist was my first principal role. Another was the parody version of Hitchcock’s 39 Steps, a play which was designed to go wrong. We could improvise a bit and break character for a moment to enjoy the ridiculousness of it all. There was a wonderful freedom with that.
XL – For me, also The Little Shop of Horrors and Treasure Island which was a breakthrough role for me. Matilda was one of my favourite shows produced here, it all came together so well and Mrs Trunchbull is probably my favourite role to date.
Do you have anything in the pipeline?
XL – I will definitely try and do as much professional theatre as I can, however, I have not got the time at the moment – I am busy doing my GCSE devised performance, Into the Woods and am helping Oscar and Henry (Upper Sixth, Harcourt) with their A Level drama performance.
OL – I will start working with the Playhouse Youth Theatre company to put on a play called Our Country is Good in March, and in the summer I am working with a company called Wild Goose Theatre and will be performing Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in Oxford Castle.
